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Max and Ruby
Max Counts His Chickens
Max and Ruby, everyone’s favorite bunnies, are back in a unique largeformat counting book sure to tickle the funny bone of very young readers. When the Easter Bunny decides to hide the contents of their Easter baskets, Max and Ruby set out on a hunt for the missing marshmallow chicks which are here, there, and everywhere. It seems that Ruby is finding all the chicks, but count on Max to have the last laugh! Max and Ruby currently appear in their own television series on Nickelodeon.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2007
2 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Rosemary Wells
453 books380 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).
Rosemary Wells is an American writer and illustrator of children's books. She often uses animal characters to address real human issues. Some of her most well-known characters are Max & Ruby and Timothy from Timothy Goes To School (both were later adapted into Canadian-animated preschool television series, the former’s airing on Nickelodeon (part of the Nick Jr. block) and the latter’s as part of PBS Kids on PBS).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
October 26, 2008
Although this is an Easter tale, our girls enjoyed this story. It mimics a video they saw of Max and Ruby, where Ruby does all the finding, while Max is distracted by other things and makes a mess! Colorful illustrations and a counting lesson too! We borrowed it again at Easter and it was a big hit again.
September 5, 2012
I actually enjoyed this book as it made me smile a lot remembering my childhood joys when Easter came along. I thought that the author had a fun way of incorporating the numbers into the story. The story is about Max and Ruby during Easter time. The Easter bunny comes and hides 10 hot pink marshmallow chicks around the house believing that 10 will be enough. When Ruby and Max awake they begin to look for the chicks just as some search for eggs now days out of tradition. Max continually has bad luck at finding the chicks while Ruby finds them all. Max made me laugh a lot throughout the book as he looks in some of the weirdest places like the orange juice. I thought it was really funny and in a way demonstrated the innocence of children. In the end, Max was upset that he didn’t find any chicks but his grandmother calls the Easter bunny and he brings Max chicks. I would recommend this book for younger children as i think it is a fun way to teach children numbers. Throughout the book the number that is being talked about is emphasized. Overall, the book is filled with color, fun, and the possibility of learning.
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February 28, 2017Max Counts His Chickens is about this bunny named Max enjoying Easter. His sister Ruby joins in on a fun activity, a scavenger hunt for pink chickens around the house. Max and Ruby count the chickens as they find them. Unfortunately it's more Ruby finding the chickens not Max. Until Max receives a phone call from the Easter bunny who sends him many yellow marshmallow chicks through the mail slot of the door.
This book was super cute, I remember watching the television show as a child and it is neat to see they have books with lessons in them.
It would be fun to read with a younger group and have them count the chickens as well. Then have an Easter egg hunt of your own in the classroom where each egg had a number they had to count to before they could look for another egg.
This book was super cute, I remember watching the television show as a child and it is neat to see they have books with lessons in them.
It would be fun to read with a younger group and have them count the chickens as well. Then have an Easter egg hunt of your own in the classroom where each egg had a number they had to count to before they could look for another egg.
March 18, 2023
Copyrighted in 2007 this title with a counting as well as an Easter theme stands the test of time. Ruby and her younger brother Max are looking for the chickens the Easter Bunny hid, the pink marshmallow chickens and I laughed, marshmallow chicken. Max is not finding any chicks, but we see him in the right side illustrated pages getting into plenty of messes, no there are no chickens in the tube of toothpaste non no in the coffee container, nor the cereal box. Max does what little younger brothers do well get into mischief, but all ends well. Love the bordered illustrations with the borders being in pastel Easter colors. Just a refreshing title that features Ruby and Max exhibiting typical child behaviors.
December 8, 2019
Great book that took me back to my childhood show of Max and Ruby! Had a big flashback of how they would talk and read the book in what I believe was there voices from back then. Another good back that can be used with the younger children fo Kinder to 1st grade, maybe even second. Again, having those illustrations that is clear to the 2000-2010’s era and making it very easy to keep along and count from 1 to 10 while seeing the number of chickens.
April 18, 2025
Rosemary Wells's books about Max and Ruby are always a joy to read. This title features the Easter Bunny hiding ten marshmallow chicks for Max and Ruby to find. As Ruby finds one chick after another, the numeral appears on the page, making this an excellent concept book. Max follows behind
Ruby, making a mess while she discovers all the eggs. Ruby as the long suffering older sister and Max as messy chaotic younger brother strikes a chord with me, as I'm sure it will with many kids.
Ruby, making a mess while she discovers all the eggs. Ruby as the long suffering older sister and Max as messy chaotic younger brother strikes a chord with me, as I'm sure it will with many kids.
April 3, 2019
Just awful. The only redeeming quality is that you can count the chickens as Ruby does. I guess the mess Max makes might make some kids laugh, but since there's never any consequence or clean up, I definitely cannot recommend selfish Ruby and messy max to anyone.
January 3, 2019
If you love marshmallow Peeps then you'll love this story :)
May 7, 2019
With fun and familiar characters this book would be fun to use in a kindergarten math lesson.
Guided Reading: D
Lexile: AD30
Guided Reading: D
Lexile: AD30
August 21, 2019
Delightful!
November 13, 2019
Max is one messy kid, but Ruby, his sister, is a real #%*$@!
August 26, 2024
Max and Ruby go on a hunt for marshmallow chicks on Easter. A fun counting book for Easter.
April 20, 2025
Max and Ruby hunt for 10 marshmallow chicks hidden by the Easter Bunny.
Max and Ruby teach young readers counting 1 to 10 as they hunt for neon pink marshmallow chicks. Both the numeral and the corresponding number of chicks appear at the top of the page that contains the written word for the number.
Ruby finds all 10 marshmallow chicks, and Max finds zero, but Grandma steps in and telephones the Easter Bunny who promptly delivers an additional 10 chickens through the mail slot into Max's waiting basket. Although, I did wonder why Grandma didn’t just tell Ruby to share with Max.
Rosemary Wells's illustrations are more stylized and polished than in her earlier work and are in transition towards the sleek digital images found in the "Max & Ruby" cartoons. Personally, I prefer the more primitive artwork from her earlier books.
The implicit morals are basic manners: leave some for others, be kind, share, and take turns. As in Max's Chocolate Chicken, Ruby finds all the items for which they are searching and pops them into her basket without any consideration for her little brother who is clearly having difficulty. It doesn't even occur to her that maybe she should help Max find some, too. This provides caregivers with the opportunity to discuss appropriate behavior for older siblings towards younger siblings whose cognitive and motor skills are not as advanced.
The story illustrates the difference between equality and equitability. Max and Ruby have an equal (same) opportunity to hunt for marshmallow chicks, but it is not equitable (fair) because Ruby has multiple advantages. As a result, Ruby gets all the chicks, and Max gets none. An authority had to intercede to make sure both receive equal amounts.
This then raises the larger questions of meritocracy (ability + effort = merit), redistribution, and scarcity of resources. Does Ruby deserve all the chicks because she is better at finding things than Max and, therefore, earned them? Is she obligated to share with Max because he is incapable of getting his own chicks? When and how should the playing field be leveled?
Limited resources are a zero sum game, but luckily the Easter Bunny has an endless supply of marshmallow chicks and can be called upon to provide Max with an equal amount, which is only fair since he set up the situation as a free-for-all. Let this be a lesson to caregivers about the importance of establishing ground rules when holding any kind of hunt for hidden objects in order to ensure that all participants get something.
Max and Ruby teach young readers counting 1 to 10 as they hunt for neon pink marshmallow chicks. Both the numeral and the corresponding number of chicks appear at the top of the page that contains the written word for the number.
Ruby finds all 10 marshmallow chicks, and Max finds zero, but Grandma steps in and telephones the Easter Bunny who promptly delivers an additional 10 chickens through the mail slot into Max's waiting basket. Although, I did wonder why Grandma didn’t just tell Ruby to share with Max.
Rosemary Wells's illustrations are more stylized and polished than in her earlier work and are in transition towards the sleek digital images found in the "Max & Ruby" cartoons. Personally, I prefer the more primitive artwork from her earlier books.
The implicit morals are basic manners: leave some for others, be kind, share, and take turns. As in Max's Chocolate Chicken, Ruby finds all the items for which they are searching and pops them into her basket without any consideration for her little brother who is clearly having difficulty. It doesn't even occur to her that maybe she should help Max find some, too. This provides caregivers with the opportunity to discuss appropriate behavior for older siblings towards younger siblings whose cognitive and motor skills are not as advanced.
The story illustrates the difference between equality and equitability. Max and Ruby have an equal (same) opportunity to hunt for marshmallow chicks, but it is not equitable (fair) because Ruby has multiple advantages. As a result, Ruby gets all the chicks, and Max gets none. An authority had to intercede to make sure both receive equal amounts.
This then raises the larger questions of meritocracy (ability + effort = merit), redistribution, and scarcity of resources. Does Ruby deserve all the chicks because she is better at finding things than Max and, therefore, earned them? Is she obligated to share with Max because he is incapable of getting his own chicks? When and how should the playing field be leveled?
Limited resources are a zero sum game, but luckily the Easter Bunny has an endless supply of marshmallow chicks and can be called upon to provide Max with an equal amount, which is only fair since he set up the situation as a free-for-all. Let this be a lesson to caregivers about the importance of establishing ground rules when holding any kind of hunt for hidden objects in order to ensure that all participants get something.
July 20, 2014
This is a fun Easter counting book. It is a Ruby and Max story so has moral lessons as taught by the big sister. This didn't come across quite as well in this book.
One of my problems is like so many counting books, it only counts to 10.
Another problem is they are counting big candy marshmallow chicks and 10 is a big number.
I do realize those two complaints sound opposite but I'd prefer to see 20 m and ms or 5 chicks!
Max isn't fast enough or old enough or clever enough (take your pick) to find the chicks but does make a huge mess in his hunt for them and no mention is made of this at all!! Instead with one phone call from Grandma, max gets 10 of his own candy chicks. A reward for making a mess!
I have treated my darling even when she doesn't really deserve it but this is a storybook that I would have expected to be setting a good example.
One of my problems is like so many counting books, it only counts to 10.
Another problem is they are counting big candy marshmallow chicks and 10 is a big number.
I do realize those two complaints sound opposite but I'd prefer to see 20 m and ms or 5 chicks!
Max isn't fast enough or old enough or clever enough (take your pick) to find the chicks but does make a huge mess in his hunt for them and no mention is made of this at all!! Instead with one phone call from Grandma, max gets 10 of his own candy chicks. A reward for making a mess!
I have treated my darling even when she doesn't really deserve it but this is a storybook that I would have expected to be setting a good example.
March 2, 2011
I have a real problem with that Ruby. My five year old daughter has been bringing up - for over a year - some problems she has. She's bossy, she doesn't share, she has to have everything her way or else, she talks down to her brother, and that's just to name a few. My kid actually noticed this without any prodding.
Anyway, she bugs me. I feel for dirty little Max. I wish Ruby would see a therapist and work out her problems.
Anyhoo, this is the cartoon put to paper. If your child likes the cartoon and likes to read - he or she will like this.
Sadly, Julia is moving away from this sort of cartoon and heading towards that icky icarly and the like. Very sad, I know. Heartbreaking really.
I'd take Ruby and her mental problem(s) over icarly any day. :(
Anyway, she bugs me. I feel for dirty little Max. I wish Ruby would see a therapist and work out her problems.
Anyhoo, this is the cartoon put to paper. If your child likes the cartoon and likes to read - he or she will like this.
Sadly, Julia is moving away from this sort of cartoon and heading towards that icky icarly and the like. Very sad, I know. Heartbreaking really.
I'd take Ruby and her mental problem(s) over icarly any day. :(
Want to read
August 21, 2014-- re. brothers & sisters;
-- re. rabbits;
-- re. easter egg hunts;
On Easter morning, when Ruby finds all ten of the marshmallow chicks hidden by the Easter Bunny, Grandma must quickly think of a way to make things fair for Max.
Max and Ruby, everyone's favorite bunnies, are back in a unique largeformat counting book sure to tickle the funny bone of very young readers. When the Easter Bunny decides to hide the contents of their Easter baskets, Max and Ruby set out on a hunt for the missing marshmallow chicks which are here, there, and everywhere. It seems that Ruby is finding all the chicks, but count on Max to have the last laugh! Max and Ruby currently appear in their own television series on Nickelodeon.
-- re. rabbits;
-- re. easter egg hunts;
On Easter morning, when Ruby finds all ten of the marshmallow chicks hidden by the Easter Bunny, Grandma must quickly think of a way to make things fair for Max.
Max and Ruby, everyone's favorite bunnies, are back in a unique largeformat counting book sure to tickle the funny bone of very young readers. When the Easter Bunny decides to hide the contents of their Easter baskets, Max and Ruby set out on a hunt for the missing marshmallow chicks which are here, there, and everywhere. It seems that Ruby is finding all the chicks, but count on Max to have the last laugh! Max and Ruby currently appear in their own television series on Nickelodeon.
April 28, 2022
Read at Storytime on April 27, 2022
Theme: Rosemary Wells stories
Read for Storytime Express March 23&24 2016 for Easter.
Read for Storytime, April 12th 2017
Theme: Easter eggs & bunnies
A favorite book to read at Easter. Max and Ruby hunt for hot pink chicks and Max gets into a world of a mess. The kids love this book!
Theme: Rosemary Wells stories
Read for Storytime Express March 23&24 2016 for Easter.
Read for Storytime, April 12th 2017
Theme: Easter eggs & bunnies
A favorite book to read at Easter. Max and Ruby hunt for hot pink chicks and Max gets into a world of a mess. The kids love this book!
March 29, 2011
Great counting book!! Poor Max couldn't find any chicks of his own. He did look in all the wrong places though. In the end, it all works out (thanks to Grandma) and he gets some yellow chicks instead of the hot pink ones.
April 18, 2011
Cute Easter counting book! I always get a kick out of Max and Ruby. I think they exemplify the big sister/little brother birth order characteristic traits, at least from what I've noticed with my kids. And since I'm the oldest in my family, I really relate to Ruby.
October 25, 2007
I LOVE MAX & RUBY
May 20, 2008
Adorable!! I want to learn to count like Max.
"One, three, ten, two, six, four, seven, eight, nine, five!"
"One, three, ten, two, six, four, seven, eight, nine, five!"
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 1, 2012
Cute book, but Ruby sure is an annoying older sister in this one.
July 21, 2012
Really cute counting book -- the expressions on Max's face as he fails to find Easter chicks are priceless.
March 18, 2013
cute book. the kids liked it.
March 19, 2013
The kids loved this one in our chick and bunny themed storytime. Listeners can count along with Ruby and follow the trail of messes left by Max.
March 21, 2013
Okay, so sue me---but I'm not a huge Max and Ruby fan. My preschoolers (2-4 years old), however, were glued to this book during story time. Thus the four star rating. :)
November 15, 2013
I just love Max!
July 24, 2016
Simple and cute!
April 21, 2014
Cute and clever with delightful characters and fun illustrations. Especially speaks to me as a little sister.
April 7, 2015
I love Max and Ruby books!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews